Autumn Decoration Ideas: 40 Ways to Decorate Your Home

There's something about autumn that makes us want to nest. As the evenings draw in and the leaves start to turn, our homes become places to slow down, light candles and wrap up in a throw. Decorating for autumn is the easiest way to make that feeling last all season, and it doesn't need to cost much at all.

As an interior designer, I love autumn decorating because so much of it is free: fallen leaves, pinecones, seed heads and branches can look just as beautiful as anything from the shops. In this guide I'll share 40 autumn decoration ideas, room by room from the front door to the garden, plus five easy DIY projects with time and cost, colour palettes, budget and foraging tips, and the safety and pet advice most guides leave out.

When to Decorate for Autumn

Most people start decorating for autumn in late September or early October, once the weather turns. Start with natural textures and warm colours, add pumpkins in October, and keep the look going through November. Many autumn pieces, such as pinecones, dried oranges, candles and warm textiles, carry straight on into Christmas, so they're worth investing in. Planning for 31 October as well? My guide to Halloween decorations shows how the best decorated homes do it.

Choose an Autumn Colour Palette

Pick three to five colours and stick to them throughout your home, so every room flows.

If you're drawn to earthy shades, my guides to terracotta colour and the best green paint colours show how to use them in your home.

40 Autumn Decoration Ideas, Room by Room

Front door and porch

1. Make a seasonal wreath. Use foliage from the garden, dried hydrangeas, rose hips and seed heads on a willow or brass hoop (see the DIY guide below).
2. Stack pumpkins on the steps. Group pumpkins and squash in different sizes, colours and textures, with the largest at the back.
3. Plant up containers. Heathers, cyclamen, ornamental cabbages, violas and grasses give colour that lasts well into winter.
4. Add lanterns. Battery or solar lanterns either side of the door make a warm welcome on dark evenings.
5. Swap the doormat. A new coir doormat is a small, practical seasonal refresh.

Hallway

6. Style the console table. A vase of branches, a bowl of pinecones and a lamp create an instant autumn welcome.
7. Add a warm runner rug. It softens the floor and catches muddy autumn boots.
8. Hang a garland on the banister. Faux leaves or dried orange garlands wrapped loosely around the handrail look lovely.

Living room

9. Layer throws and cushions. Swap linen cushion covers for velvet, wool or bouclé in your autumn palette.
10. Light lamps, not ceiling lights. Warm bulbs (around 2700K) in table and floor lamps make the room glow.
11. Group candles. Cluster candles of different heights on a tray for impact.
12. Bring in branches. A tall vase of foraged or florist branches makes a striking, low cost display.
13. Add a large rug. Wool or jute underfoot instantly makes a room feel warmer.
14. Swap your artwork. Hang a landscape, a moody still life or botanical prints for the season. My guide to famous flower paintings explains how to find free, high quality prints.

For more, see my cosy autumn interior design trends and autumn interior design trends.

Mantelpiece

15. Drape a leaf garland. Let a garland of real or faux leaves trail over one side for an asymmetric, natural look.
16. Mix heights. Combine tall candlesticks, a mirror or artwork, and low pumpkins or pinecones.
17. Use the hearth. Fill it with logs, a basket of pinecones or a row of lanterns if you don't use the fire.
18. Keep to odd numbers. Groups of three or five look more natural than pairs.

Kitchen

19. Display seasonal produce. A bowl of apples, pears, squash or chestnuts is decoration you can eat.
20. Hang dried herbs and orange slices. Tie bundles of rosemary, bay or thyme, or a string of dried oranges, from a shelf or rail.
21. Swap tea towels and linens. Warm checks, stripes or rust linen are an easy refresh.
22. Fill glass jars. Pasta, beans and lentils in glass jars look warm and earthy on open shelves.

Dining table

23. Create a foraged table runner. Lay leaves, pinecones, mini pumpkins and rose hips down the centre of the table on a linen runner.
24. Use candles in holders. Brass, glass or ceramic holders add warmth to evening meals. Keep them low so guests can see each other.
25. Add place settings with a natural touch. A sprig of rosemary, a leaf with a name written in gold pen or a mini pumpkin on each plate.
26. Swap to warm tableware. Earthenware plates, amber glasses and linen napkins in autumn shades.

Bedroom

27. Layer the bed. Add a quilt and a chunky knit throw, and swap pillow shams to autumn colours. My guide to what a bed sham is shows how.
28. Change your bedding. Washed linen or brushed cotton in rust, olive or caramel feels instantly seasonal.
29. Add a bedside lamp and a candle. Soft light and a warm scent make bedtime feel cosy.
30. Display dried flowers. Pampas grass, bunny tails or dried hydrangeas last all season.

For complete bedroom looks, see my cosy autumn bedroom ideas.

Bathroom

31. Swap towels and bath mats to warm neutrals or deep autumn tones.
32. Light a candle by the bath for a slow, spa-like autumn evening. My guide to the Japanese soaking tub has more ideas for a calm bathroom.
33. Add eucalyptus to the shower. Hang a bunch from the shower head; the steam releases its scent.

Home office

34. Add a desk lamp with a warm bulb for darker afternoons.
35. Bring in a seasonal plant or a small vase of autumn stems. My home office design ideas cover how to make a workspace feel calm.

Windows

36. Line the windowsill with small pumpkins, pinecones and tea light lanterns.
37. Hang a leaf or orange garland across the window or from a curtain pole.
38. Switch to heavier curtains or add a lining to keep the warmth in.

Garden and outdoor spaces

39. Light the garden. Solar fairy lights along a fence or in a tree make the garden feel magical on autumn evenings. My cheap garden fence ideas have more ideas for outdoor lighting.
40. Create a cosy outdoor corner. Blankets, outdoor cushions, lanterns and a fire pit (used safely) extend the season outdoors.

5 Easy DIY Autumn Decorations

1. Dried orange garland

1. Slice oranges about 5mm thick and pat dry with kitchen paper.
2. Lay them on a lined baking tray and dry in a low oven, around 100°C (80°C fan), for two to three hours, turning every half an hour, until dry but still bright.
3. Leave to cool and harden overnight.
4. Thread onto twine or ribbon with a darning needle, adding cinnamon sticks, bay leaves or wooden beads between the slices.

2. Preserved leaf garland

1. Collect fresh, flexible leaves rather than dry, crispy ones.
2. Preserve them by soaking in a mix of one part glycerine to two parts water for a few days, or press them between heavy books for a week.
3. Punch a small hole in each stem, or tie them to twine with thread, and hang.

3. Foraged autumn wreath

1. Start with a willow, wire or brass hoop.
2. Gather foliage from your garden, such as ivy, eucalyptus or beech, plus seed heads, dried hydrangeas and rose hips.
3. Wire small bundles to the hoop, overlapping each one to hide the stems.
4. Finish with a ribbon in your autumn palette.

The same technique works for Christmas, as I explain in my guide to fresh Christmas wreaths.

4. Pumpkin and squash display

Choose pumpkins and squash in different shapes, sizes and colours, including white, green and striped varieties. Group them in odd numbers on steps, a console table or a windowsill, with the biggest at the back. Add a few pinecones and leaves to fill gaps.

5. Foraged table centrepiece

Lay a linen runner down the table. Scatter leaves, pinecones and small pumpkins along it, add a few candles in holders, and tuck in rose hips or berried branches. It takes minutes and costs almost nothing. For more ideas with flowers and foliage, see my guide to decorating with fresh flowers.

Free Autumn Decorations You Can Forage

• Fallen leaves in red, orange and gold
• Pinecones and acorn cups
• Conkers
• Seed heads, such as alliums, poppies and teasels
• Twigs and branches
• Rose hips and berried branches
• Moss and lichen covered sticks
• Ornamental grasses

Forage responsibly: take fallen material or small amounts, never uproot plants, get permission on private land, and avoid nature reserves and protected sites where collecting may not be allowed. Shake out and check for insects before bringing anything indoors.

Autumn Decorating Safety and Pets

Natural decorations look beautiful, but some are harmful to children and pets.

How Long Natural Autumn Decorations Last

When they're finished, compost pumpkins, leaves and foliage rather than putting them in the bin.

Autumn Decorating on a Budget

• Forage first. Leaves, cones, branches and seed heads are free.
• Shop your home. Move throws, candles and vases from other rooms.
• Swap covers, not cushions. New cushion covers are cheaper than new cushions.
• Buy seasonal produce. Pumpkins, squash and apples double as decoration and dinner.
• Make it yourself. Dried orange garlands and leaf garlands cost very little.
• Reuse each year. Store dried and faux pieces carefully so they last for years.
• Upcycle. Old jars become lanterns and an old hoop becomes a wreath. My guide to upcycled furniture has more ideas.

Renter-Friendly and Small Space Ideas

• Use removable hooks for wreaths and garlands.
• Decorate with textiles, lamps and plants rather than paint.
• Keep displays on trays, so they can move easily.
• In a small home, focus on one or two spots, such as the mantel and the table, rather than every surface. My small living room ideas explain how to style a compact space without clutter.

How to Store Autumn Decorations

• Wrap dried oranges and delicate pieces in tissue paper in a sturdy box.
• Store garlands loosely coiled, not crushed.
• Keep everything somewhere cool and dry to prevent damp and mould.
• Label boxes so next year's decorating takes minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should you decorate for autumn?

Most people start in late September or early October. Begin with warm textiles, candles and natural textures, then add pumpkins in October.

How can I make my home feel autumnal?

Add warm colours, layered textiles such as wool and velvet, soft lamplight and candles, and natural elements such as leaves, branches, pinecones and pumpkins.

What are the best autumn decorations?

Pumpkins and squash, wreaths, leaf garlands, dried oranges, pinecones, candles, warm throws and cushions, and vases of autumn branches are the most popular and versatile autumn decorations.

How do you decorate for autumn on a budget?

Forage leaves, pinecones and branches, reuse items you already own, swap cushion covers rather than cushions, and make simple DIY decorations such as dried orange garlands.

Are autumn decorations safe for pets?

Some aren't. Conkers and acorns are toxic to dogs, lilies are extremely toxic to cats, and holly and ivy berries are harmful if eaten. Keep these out of reach and always supervise candles.

When should you take autumn decorations down?

Many people take Halloween decorations down in early November but keep general autumn decor until late November, when it's time to start decorating for Christmas.

Make Your Home Cosy This Autumn

Autumn decorating is about warmth, texture and bringing a little of the season indoors. Start with a simple palette, forage what you can, layer cosy textiles and soft light, and add a few handmade touches.

If you'd like help creating a home that feels warm and welcoming in every season, you can book a one-hour online interior design consultation with me. For more ideas, browse my decorating articles.